Your first encounter with China business for global sourcing and import and export initiative may be a bit too confusing over how to build relationships there. Remember, your first visit may not be your last interaction with your counterpart; no matter whether you are setting up China business there or looking for import/export opportunities as a part of your global sourcing endeavor.

-Presenting Business Cards Holds the Key

In China business, how you present your business card is regarded with seriousness. Many US import/export managers unaware of this do it in a casual way like they do back home. In order to strike cords with your import & export or global sourcing partner and have a successful deal in global sourcing, have your card’s critical areas like your name, company name and contact details translated to Chinese and present it with both your hands with Mandarin side facing your China business partner. On the other hand, when you are offered a card by your global sourcing counterpart, don’t stuff it to your pocket without studying it for a while, which is disrespectful.

-Guanxi and the Art of Promoting Your Import & Export Business

Guanxi stands for relationship, relation, concern, to have to do with and much more. Remember, Shanghai and Guanxi are two inseparable companions for aspiring global sourcing and import/export managers. To develop relationship with your China business counterparts, networking means a lot. Unlike olden days when networking meant first socializing then promoting China business, business relations are built on strong fundamentals as a number of present day foreign investor companies have different approaches.

-China Business, Relationships, Global Sourcing and Import/Export

Networking with government officials, import and export partners for licensing or permits for setting up your China business or global sourcing initiative is a time consuming exercise that needs to be carefully built. However, establishing relationship with manufacturers, import/export operators isn’t going to be difficult and it can be based on pragmatic basis in China business.

-Maintaining the Relationship to Promote China Business

No doubt, relationships are critical for China business development. More than that, it is the right kind of relationships that help and make you relish when maintained. For some global sourcing agencies, developing connections with the local community or government officials can help seal deals, while others think differently. But everyone agrees that type of relationship and maintaining it is a matter dependent on your business model. Both large and SME import/export and global sourcing companies maintain person to person relationships which is the foundation of China business.

Walk these 5 steps to relationship success.

"Of course I want a life partner you may be saying why else would I read this?" Our society considers it important for women to be in a relationship. There is still a perception in many quarters that a woman without a relationship is unhappy. Our friends and relatives want us to be happy and fulfilled and so encourage us to find a life partner. The media also exerts pressure on women to be part of a couple. Many women have mixed feelings about this, which often shows up in them selecting unavailable partners. This is particularly true where the woman concerned has a history of choosing unavailable men. We all have a right to choose a partner or not choose one. We also have a right to decide when we will choose our life partner. If you are enjoying life as a single and currently have no desire to find a life partner please continue to enjoy your life as a single. Only you can decide when and if to choose a life partner. It’s not a decision to be made in order to please others or because you feel under pressure. Making a decision under these circumstances wouldn’t be right for you or any partner that you choose.

Step 2. Define your life partner.

Whether you want a new pair of shoes, jacket, home or life partner you can’t have it until you define it. If you have any doubts about this imagine the following. You are at the Railway Station and ask for "a ticket " "a ticket to where?" would be the response. "Somewhere nice" you might say or " somewhere where I will be happy". You can imagine the response that you would receive. It would be along these lines " madam, until I know exactly where you want to go I can’t provide you with a ticket" It’s exactly the same with a life partner we have to have a clear picture of him before we can find him. "What do I mean by a clear picture?" you may be asking. You need to know what kind of man you want to share your life with and what kind of life you want the two of you to share. Your answer to those two questions will be as individual as you are. For example I am an animal lover and would not have chosen a partner who disliked or was indifferent to animals. Here are some headings to help you identify your ideal man. His looks, height, build, hair colour, eye colour etc? His personality outgoing, quiet, demonstrative, sporty whatever appeals to you? His lifestyle, what kind of work he does, home he lives in, car he drives, how he spends his spare time? Of course finding a life partner isn’t like ordering a take away pizza you may not get all that you desire. The important thing is to know on what you will and will not compromise. For example you might think "I can live with some untidiness but not a man who can’t get on with my parents" Or " I’ll watch football every Saturday for the right man but he has to be someone who takes my opinions seriously". It is also important to visualise your shared future, the type of life that you would live together.

Step 3. Get pro-active.

It’s only in fairy stories that the handsome prince beats a path to our door. In reality we have to make an effort to find him. This means getting out and about and being in situations where you will meet males. This may seem obvious. Many women who don’t have time to socialise due to work or domestic responsibilities have problems in finding a life partner. If you are in this situation there is a technique’ which is perfect for you. Its called "random and specific search". Even if you have lots of time to socialise I would still recommend that you use it. Most women only look out for their ideal man when they are in social situations. In reality attractive available men are around all the time. Just like you they travel to work on the train, walk their dog, go to the supermarket, attend evening classes, take their Mother out to dinner, they may even use a unisex hairdresser. I am not suggesting that you give your home number to every attractive man you exchange a few words with in the park or supermarket. Begin by being aware that attractive available men some of whom you would certainly like to know better surround you. Situations with an ongoing element are particularly useful for example evening classes or interest groups. These will allow you to meet, talk with and observe the behaviour of potential partners in a number of situations. I’ve just described the random element of random and specific search. The specific element is fairly self-explanatory. For example my friend’s elder sister was happily married to a Greek man. She wanted to follow in her footsteps and visited Greece as often as her budget would allow, ate in Greek restaurants and learnt Greek dance.

Step 4. Qualify potential partners

When you apply to work for a company you go through a qualification process. That process normally begins with completing an application form and/or submitting your CV. If you are successful at this stage you then attend one or more interviews before being hired for a trial period. In choosing someone to do work on your home or garden you would probably ask friends and neighbours if there was someone that they could recommend. You might enquire about what trade associations your prospective gardener or builder belonged to. Or ask to see some work that they had already completed. Most women do more research to find a good gardener or builder than a Life Partner. In seeking a life partner you are offering and applying for the most important position possible. So it’s important to go through a qualifying process rather like that mentioned above. Not doing so means that you could waste months or even years with someone who never makes the commitment to being your partner. Dates are a little like life partner interviews although of course much more fun. Using the insights of psychology it’s simple to know quickly, within one or two dates if a particular man is life partner materiel as far as you are concerned. Top tip don’t observe how he treats you on dates but how he treats others. Any man on a date with you will be out to impress you so he will obviously be pleasant to you. If he isn’t he has immediately disqualified himself as your future life partner. Observe how he treats your waitress or taxi driver; someone who isn’t important to him and you will see his true personality.

Step 5. Overcome obstacles

These come in two forms. If he is attrcative to you he will be attractive to other women. You can’t stop this and in a way you wouldn’t want to. After all they are complimenting you on your choice. Using the insights of psychology can give a number of ways to ensure he chooses you. Space only permits me to share one tip here. It’s this- recognise his individuality. Modern society can make us feel like numbers rather than the unique individuals which we are. It’s important to let him see that to you he is a unique and very special individual. Secondly, most women reading this will probably have had some negative relationship experiences in the past. Psychologists know that our perspective is greatly influenced by our past experiences. We expect the things that happened in the past to happen again. Yet there is no logical reason why they should. Your new man isn’t the one who cheated on you in the past, never showed up on time or saw you as a source of free meals and financial handouts. So you are both starting out with a clean slate in this relationship So now you are ready to walk the five steps to relationship success. Don’t just think about it. Do it, you’ll be glad that you did.

“By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day”, Robert Frost, American poet and winner of four Pulitzer prizes.

Israeli venture capital funds have been struggling to raise their target sums in the past few months, and the Israeli venture capital lost a quarter of a billion dollars for potential start up investments. 

 Tamir Fishman’s venture capital fundwill have to satisfy with a 100 million dollar fund rather than the $150 million it originally planned to raise. Tamir Fishman will also cease its fundraising efforts for a third fund Gemini Israel Funds had to settle for a $150 million fund, rather than the $200 million it originally planned for. It is the first time since 1997 that Gemini raises a fund smaller than $200 million. Giza Ventures has also dropped $50 million from its projected $150 million fund and has stopped its fundraising efforts on Giza 5. JVP and Genesis Partners are both currently working on raising additional funds, but are projected to fall 100 million dollar short as well by October. To add to the woes of the funds, partners are dropping right and left. According to YNET: Yuval Baharav, one of Sequoia’s senior partners has left the fund, to start a new company. Harel Beit-On has left Carmel Ventures. Michael Elias, one of Tamir Fishman’s five senior partners has left the fund for ‘family matters’. Gemini Ventures also shed one of its partners recently, Carmel Sofer, supposedly for his decision to start a doctoral program, but according to Israeli publications, due to disagreement on the fund’s investment strategy.

All together, it is a $250 million loss, out of an $800 million of total capital raised. The impact will likely be felt  primarily by Israeli start ups, who are currently ‘thirsty’ for capital.

According to D&B, Israeli venture capital funds manage a total of 36 billion NIS (equivalent of approximately 9 billion dollars, depending on the exchange). That said, the active capital which is available for investment is only estimated at $1.31 billion and it is meant to suffice for the next couple of years.  In comparison, in 2008 alone, investments in Israeli start ups reached $2.08 billion. Such a drastic decline in the available capital for start ups will seriously influence the growth of new technology companies, coming out of Israel.

The global economic crisis has hit the ’sponsors’ of venture capital including large pension funds, endowment funds and high net worth individuals. Calpers, the US  largest pension fund with $183 billion under management, has already reported a 30% decline in the value of its assets since September, which represents an unprecedented loss of 70 billion dollar. Calpers was an investor in several Israeli venture capital funds such as Pitango, Carmel, Giza and Gemini.

Harvard’s endowment fund has lost 22% of its value, which came down to Eight billion dollars. The stock market and the collapse of the US real estate industry are the main causes for it loss. After these funds pulled out some of the money from those under performing asset classes, venture capital suddenly had a 3% to 10% share of their portfolio, which drove endowment funds to diversify more and eventually decrease their investments in risky ventures.

In the words of the New York Times:

Harvard, like other schools, is expected to be hurt by declines in other revenue streams, as well as the endowment. As families of students find themselves increasingly in need of financial aid, the revenue from tuition could fall. In addition, as the downturn puts strain on the government, federal grants and contracts for sponsored research are likely to encounter added stress.

There is not too much or a silver lining  in the state of the venture capital industry in Israel. As discussions on potential government VC bailouts begin to take place in the US, the Israeli VCs are following attentively. One thing that did not change is the amount of raw talent and innovation coming out of Israel. This are vulnerable times for Israeli VCs, but a great opportunity for international funds who want to increase their presence in Israel.